As evident by the hit show Yellowstone and the iconic photos released from the upcoming Barbie movie, Western fashion has hit mainstream in a big way. Cowboy culture is alive and thriving! Ahead of National Cowboy Day on Sat., July 23, iconic cowboy boot brand Lucchese shares its top tips for caring for your cowboy boots!

Lucchese makes cowboy boots from many types of leather, including cow skin, deer, alligator, python, ostrich, and even shark skin and stingray. All leather boots, no matter the material, should be cleaned and protected to keep them looking new, and prevent general wear and cracking of the leather. If you store your boots in a dry, clean area and clean them as necessary (Lucchese recommends a Clean-Condition-Polish-Protect method, detailed below), they should last for many years.

Lucchese makes a variety of products to help extend the life of your products, including a Suede and Leather Protectant Spray, Leather Conditioner, Premium Leather Protector and Leather Cleaner. 

Now for the tips, in honor of National Cowboy Day on Saturday, July 23: 

SMOOTH LEATHER

CLEAN: Brush off dirt or dust with a damp cloth or soft brush.
CONDITION: Apply a leather conditioner.
POLISH: Apply a neutral or matching cream-based polish and buff with a soft cloth.
PROTECT: Use the above methods to provide protection.

SUEDE / STONE WASHED LEATHER

BEFORE WEARING: Treat new boots with a non-silicone water and stain protector.
CLEAN: Brush dirt and dust off with a damp cloth or soft brush.
POLISH: N/A - Avoid polish or creams, as this will damage the material.
PROTECT: Apply a non-silicone water and stain protector.

SUEDE TIPS:
Store suede boots in a way that allows them to breathe. Keep away from light and damp environments. If the suede gets wet, soak up excess moisture with a clean towel and allow it to dry naturally. To speed up drying, use boot trees. But avoid any direct heat source to speed up the process. Use a nail file or a wire bristle brush to remove dry mud and scuff marks with gentle strokes.

EXOTICS

CLEAN: Brush off dirt or dust with a damp cloth or soft brush.
CONDITION: Apply an exotic leather conditioner to your boots in several thin layers.
POLISH: Apply a neutral or matching cream-based polish and buff with a soft cloth.
PROTECT: Apply a non-silicone water and stain protector.

SNAKESKIN TIPS:
When cleaning, conditioning and protecting, go with the grain of the scales and avoid polish

OSTRICH TIPS:

Ostrich leather, known for its style and durability, is one of the most popular types of leather. Ostrich boots can last almost a lifetime, if taken care of properly. We’ve thrown together quick and easy tips to treating your Lucchese ostrich boots.

Ostrich leather can be extremely sensitive to oils, meaning that the natural oils from your skin can affect the color of your boots. It’s natural for the look and feel of your boots to change over time for this reason. However, if you ever accidentally spill something on your boots, use a slightly damp cloth to treat the damaged area as soon as possible. With an oil spill, use talc to dry up the oil from the leather and remove the talc with a dry cloth or soft brush.

Your boots should be cleaned on a regular basis, especially if you use them often. To clean your ostrich boots, always brush off any dirt or dust with a soft brush or damp cloth. After cleaning your ostrich leather boots, apply a thin layer of exotic leather conditioner and let it dry. Then, apply a polish and buff the polish with a soft cloth. Finally, use non-silicone water and stain protector for your boots. 

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